The grace of life is theirs

Full Text

1 The grace of life is theirs
who on this wedding day
delight to make their vows
and for each other pray.
May they, O Lord, together prove
the lasting joy of Christian love.
the lasting joy of Christian love.

2 Where love is, God abides:
and God shall surely bless
a home where trust and care
give birth to happiness.
May they, O lord, together prove
the lasting joy of such a love.
the lasting joy of such a love.

3 And when time lays its hand
on all we hold most dear,
and life, by life consumed,
fulfills its purpose here:
May we, O Lord, together prove
the lasting joy of Christian love.
the lasting joy of Christian love.

Author: Fred Pratt Green

The name of the Rev. F. Pratt Green is one of the best-known of the contemporary school of hymnwriters in the British Isles. His name and writings appear in practically every new hymnal and "hymn supplement" wherever English is spoken and sung. And now they are appearing in American hymnals, poetry magazines, and anthologies.
Mr. Green was born in Liverpool, England, in 1903. Ordained in the British Methodist ministry, he has been pastor and district superintendent in Brighton and York, and now serves in Norwich. Here he continues to write new hymns "that fill the gap between the hymns of the first part of this century and the 'far-out' compositions that have crowded into some churches in the last decade or more."
--Seven New Hymns of… Go to person page >

Tune

John David Edwards (b. Penderlwyngoch, Cardiganshire, Wales, 1805; d. Llanddoget, Denbighshire, North Wales, 1885) was educated at Jesus College, Oxford, England, and ordained an Anglican priest in 1833. He served parishes in Rhosymedre and Llanddoget and published a collection of hymn tunes, Origin…

Composed by John Darwall (b. Haughton, Staffordshire, England, 1731; d. Walsall, Staffordshire, England, 1789), DARWALL'S 148TH was first published as a setting for Psalm 148 in Aaron William's New Universal Psalmodist (1770) with only soprano and bass parts. The harmonization dates from the ninete…

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